💔 The drama surrounding Zac Lomax and the now-delayed R360 rebel rugby competition has taken a dramatic turn, and the news is not good for the star winger’s prospects of an immediate NRL return. Despite the ARLC boss Peter V’landys offering a compassionate lifeline, speculation is mounting that the Parramatta Eels will make a brutal and decisive call, effectively slamming the door shut on a return to the Blue and Gold.
The $700,000 Release and the ‘Mirage’
The Eels made the monumental decision to release the representative star from the final three years of his lucrative $700,000-a-season contract after he played just a single season for the club. The reasoning was clear: Lomax wanted to pursue a reported multi-million-dollar opportunity in R360, the unsanctioned rugby union league.
That was until the supposed “global rugby revolution” was exposed as a ‘mirage’. Organisers were forced to announce the competition’s launch would be delayed until 2028, citing insufficient financial backing and a failure to secure enough top-tier players to kick off in 2026. This postponement left Lomax, along with other high-profile targets like Ryan Papenhuyzen, stranded in career limbo.
In a rare show of leniency, ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys confirmed that players who had left their NRL contracts early would be free to return, stating they were “just victims” of the rebel league’s failure. This crucial announcement lifted the threat of the previously discussed 10-year NRL bans that had hung over potential defectors.
The Eels’ Brutal Condition
While V’landys opened the door to the NRL, the Parramatta Eels hold the key to Lomax’s immediate future. The terms of his early release from the Eels included a stringent condition: Lomax cannot play for any other NRL club until 2029, unless the Eels grant him specific permission to do so.
This clause means Lomax’s only realistic path back into Rugby League is through Parramatta—and reports from league journalists suggest the Eels are unlikely to entertain the move. Having cut ties and freed up nearly $2 million in salary cap space to pursue other targets (like the recently linked Brian Kelly), the club is not keen on reversing course and disrupting their new roster strategy.
As journalist Michael Chammas noted, Parramatta’s willingness to let go of a player of Lomax’s calibre, despite only having him for one season, demonstrates they have “other priorities.” The Eels effectively made a cost-benefit decision: losing a great player was worth the financial and roster flexibility gained. Bringing him back would undo the crucial salary cap relief they desperately need for their rebuild.
The Next Chapter: Rugby or Limbo?
Lomax’s next move remains highly uncertain. His manager confirmed there is “no shortage of interest,” but the options are narrow:
* Overseas Rugby: Lomax could still pursue a switch to the 15-man game in Europe (France’s Top 14) or Japan, or even try to earn a development contract with an Australian Super Rugby side like the Western Force, aiming for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
* Extended Limbo: He could risk waiting until 2028 for the delayed R360 launch, but that means a minimum of two years away from top-flight professional competition.
* The Eels’ Mercy: Relying on the Eels to grant a compassionate waiver, either to return to the club or join a rival—a move that seems highly improbable given the circumstances of his exit and their current strategy.
For Lomax, the bold gamble on the R360 financial promise has severely jeopardized his NRL career. He is now paying a heavy price for choosing a massive payday over the security of a long-term contract in the world’s premier Rugby League competition.